KUCHING: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sarawak yesterday launched Gerakan Memerangi Pemberi Rasuah (Gempur), an anti-corruption programme reminding civil servants to report bribery and educating members of the public not to offer any in the first place.

The launching ceremony, held at Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) headquarters here, targets civil servants in the fields of enforcement, acquisition and licensing.

“Personnel who refuse bribes and report corruption will be awarded recognition or a reward,” said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad. His text of speech was read by MACC Sarawak acting director Zulhairy Zaidel.

As of December last year, 214 people have been given recognition and rewarded with incentives totalling RM384,575.

Failure to report corruption is a criminal offence under Section 25 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act

2009, and can result in a fine of not more than RM100,000 or jail time of not more than 10 years or both.

Also present at the function was DBKU deputy director of Community Service Department Hasbi Suhaili.

Dzulkifli added that MACC needed cooperation from all parties in the war against corruption.

“We cannot hope to operate alone. I hope that all of you will become our eyes and ears.”

Gempur is an initiative under the umbrella of Gerakan Revolusi Anti Rasuah (Gerah), which aims to instill in people the dislike of corruption, and make it the country’s number one enemy.

MACC aims to ‘cleanse’ three critical sectors of corruption in the next three years, namely the civil service, government-linked companies, and the private sector such as finance and banking institutions.